Signaling device



Sept. 16, 1952 F. {EDWARDS SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Nov. 2 1

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IN V EN TOR. Frank E dwards ECKHOFF kg suck .Q/vsys ,4 MEMBER OF THE FIIZM Patented Sept. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNALING DEVICE Frank Edwards, San Francisco, Calif.

Application November 20, 1951, Serial No. 257,267

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a signaling device and particularly to a simple and inexpensive device which can be mounted upon the side or end wall portion of a bin or container to provide a signal.

It is in general the board object of the invention to provide a novel, simple, and improved form of signal device which can be readily attached or removed from the side or end wall portion of a bin or like container.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein the present preferred form of signal device of this invention is disclosed.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is a front view of the signal device embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is'a perspective view of a bin showing the device in use.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the signal device comprises a clip generally indicated at 6 and made up of a single strip of strong, resilient, flexible metal. The strip is bent to provide a first leg 1 and a second leg 8 joined together by a curved portion 9 to provide a generally U- shaped structure. Leg 8 is directed in slightly toward leg I, as appears in Figure 2, to enable the clip to exert a gripping action. Leg 8 also is somewhat shorter than leg I and includes a curved terminal lip portion ll so that the clip can be readily slipped into place or removed from a wall of a container.

Leg 8 includes a large circular aperture 12 provided centrally thereof, while leg .1 includes an extruded portion 12 extending forwardly from the outer face of leg 1 coaxially with aperture I2 to provide a bearing surface upon which a movable signal arm is supported. A rivet I is inserted through aperture 12 and is engaged with extruded portion 12 and is bent over the outer face on the signal arm as at [6 to'secure the signal arm in place. Arm I6 is preferably made of a suitable flexible plastic material.

In use, the clip 1 is positioned suitably upon the upstanding end ll of a box or board, as has been indicated in Figure 4 with leg 1 outermost. In this position, the signal arm 14 can be upstanding, as has been indicated in full lines. Upon removal of a certain number of devices from the bin, for example, the signal arm is moved to a second position, such as is indicated in the dotted line position 18 in the drawing. Upon the happening of a third event with respect to the contents of the bin, such as their exhaustion, the signal arm can be moved to a third position, such as that indicated in the dotted lines position 19, the signal arm being made of a distinctive color which is readily visible from a distance. Thus, one can signal the contents of the bin readily and can indicate by readily visible means the attainment of a certain status by the bin contents so that an operator can readily determine the status of a given commodity.

I claim: a

A signal device of the character described, consisting of a metal U-shaped clip having a first and second leg thereon, the first leg depending from the common U base below the second leg, the second leg having an aperture centrally thereof, a portion of the first leg being extruded to provide a raised bearing surface on the first leg concentric with said aperture; a flexible, colored, plastic signal arm; and a circular rivet concentric with said aperture and with said bearing surface and mounting the signal arm near one end thereof for rotation on said extruded portion.

. FRANK EDWARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

